So I Don't Own My Car?

Just started a new job yesteday so I've been real busy getting settled in. Checking my voicemail at lunch I got a call from Montgomery County insisting I call back ASAP, so I did. It turns out I have the title to one of the county's vehicles (now in my name) and they have the title to my car (still in the county's name). I never really took the time to check the numbers because everything else matched up. It's an honest mix-up, so I'm sure the county will handle things quickly because someone probably already bought the car that needs my title.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Since I found out, the only thing I've done is called the insurance company to insure the ACTUAL VIN on my car. I assume when entering the safety and emissions, no one actually checked the vin on the paperwork at the DMV. I'm expecting a small nightmare, but I'm planning on making Montgomery Co do all the work.

Anything else I should do?

You mean the actual VIN on the car you are driving, right? That's the one you want to insure, but it's not the one you own.

You don't want to insure the one someone else is driving.

So, what is the car you own? Is it cool? Valuable? Maybe you don't want to swap...

In reply to SVreX:

The car I own probably just had the lights and siren removed. It's probably in a lot worse shape than mine is, too. LOL

Dealer did that when we bought SWMBOs car new. Had to re-sign paperwork and straighten the registration out. Insurance was the easiest. Cost some to re-do the registration.....at dealer expense. They paid to straighten everything out plus got some free servicing for a year. Oil changes and stuff not covered under warranty. When they called about the mix up I thought they were trying to gouge more money from me until they pleaded it was their fault and all expenses would be paid by them.

good luck man .. when I bought the Sonic, the dealership sent the title to the wrong Credit Union … took a WHILE to get that straightened out

I love title problems. My old TR3 somehow had the commission number with the wrong number. Someone had transposed an S and 5. I had to make a tracing and take in. No problemo on that one.

When one of the companies I worked for was going out of business, several of us bought some of the equipment. I bought my utility trailer and another guy bought a heavy duty trailer he used for hauling his tractor. They sent us each others titles. We both returned, them, a Sr VP whited out the names and wrote in the correct one sent them back to the correct person. I never tried to get that one by the DMV. I still have the trailer with no title, but don't really need one in SC for this trailer. Funny thing is when I moved to AL I got a tag for it under the old companies name because AL didn't care.

If you walk into the MVA and try to straighten it out, it will all go to hell in a handbasket.

But, let them handle it, and it will almost assuredly be taken care of with no pain on your part.

foxtrapper wrote: But, let them handle it, and it will almost assuredly be taken care of with no pain on your part.

That, sir, is the plan. Gonna call them back today.

This is why I always check my titles against the vin tag on the vehicle as soon as I get them. I have had one mismatch that appeared to be a simple typo (like the S and 5 noted above). In your case, I suspect the path of least resistance will be simply signing the two titles over to the other party. I think the county should cover any new taxes/fees incurred (since it was their mistake) if that is the route you go.

When we bought the Sportwagen last Dec. the jack waggon finance manager put the wrong name on everything, I caught it, the sales lady caught it, and I was assured it would be fixed. It wasn't. Took almost 2 months to get the name right with VW Credit, but the title was already printed and sent off with the wrong name on it. When I registered it, I had to have an affidavit from the dealer affirming that I bought the car, and they screwed up the name. When I pay the car off, I'll have to do a name change on the title, and VW will be paying for it.

I still get spam for service and specials from VW to the wrong name at my address.

I would let them know that they can have what they want as long as they are willing to pay for the inconvenience to you. I'd hint that $5000. would be a good starting point.

So as expected, the county wants to get rid of the car they have, so they will contact me next week. Bargaining time will begin then. All I want is the correct title and not have to pay for it. Fingers crossed.